The 6 Best WordPress Google Analytics Plugins Compared in Detail 2017

Want to
set up Google Analytics for WordPress? While you can always just paste
the tracking code into your site’s header, using a Google Analytics
plugin can go a long way towards simplifying the process.

Plus,
some of the plugins I’ll feature can even give you your very own Google
Analytics dashboard in WordPress. That means all the goodness of Google
Analytics data without needing to leave the friendly confines of your
WordPress dashboard!

In this post, I’m going to dig into all of
the best Google Analytics WordPress plugins. But, because there’s some
variety in the types of plugins out there, you should expect three
different types of plugins:

1. Analytify

Overview

Analytify
is a neat plugin that comes in both a free and premium version. Not only
does it help you add the Google Analytics tracking code to WordPress
and give you an in-dashboard stats view, but you can also view stats for individual posts/pages right on each page. And you can even display stats on the front-end for certain user roles!

The Pro version adds WooCommerce and EDD support, real-time stats, and more.

Analytify CoreFeatures

View a Google Analytics dashboard inside WordPress

Get stats on individual posts, pages, or custom post types

Real-time statistics

Integrations for WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads

Separate breakdown for social media stats

Show stats on the front-end with shortcodes

Analytify Pros

Because it only uses 2 HTTP requests, Analytify won’t slow down your site

You can see which pages and networks generate the most clicks thanks to the Google Analytics integration

Analytify Cons

The detailed feature list is overkill if all you want to do is set up basic Google Analytics tracking

You’ll need to pay for some of the coolest features (not a major con, but something to consider)

How Does It Work?

All you
need to do is install the free plugin and then give it access to your
Google Analytics data by connecting the Analytify App to your Google
Analytics account. Once you authenticate your account, the configuration
process is pretty simple.

Pricing

The core Analytify plugin is free and listed at WordPress.org.
Analytify Pro costs $39 per year, and the WooCommerce, EDD, and
Campaigns add-ons are also separate charges ranging from $19 to $49 per
year.

2. Analytics Cat

Overview

Analytics
Cat is a lightweight plugin that helps you add the Google Analytics
tracking code to your WordPress site. You won’t get custom dashboards or
anything – just a helpful plugin with a few other features that make it
a better option than manually adding the Google Analytics tracking
code.

Analytics Cat Core Features

Add the Universal Google Analytics tracking code quickly and easily

Exclude logged-in users from being tracked by the code to keep your data accurate

Analytics Cat Pros

It’s super easy to use

You can exclude your own traffic from Google Analytics reports so that you don’t muddy up your data

Analytics Cat Cons

There’s not any deeper functionality – if you want dashboards in your WordPress admin, you’ll need a different plugin

How Does It Work?

All
you need to do is install the free plugin, paste in your Google
Analytics ID, and choose which user roles to exclude from tracking. That’s literally all there is to it.

Pricing

3. Google Analytics by MonsterInsights

Overview

Formerly
known as Google Analytics by Yoast, Syed Balkhi bought this plugin back
in 2016 and rebranded it as Google Analytics by MonsterInsights. Now,
it offers an array of functionality similar to Analytify. You can view
dashboards inside your WordPress admin, track eCommerce activity with
user friendly reports, and lots more.

The plugin comes in both a limited free version and more feature-rich Pro versions.

Google Analytics by MonsterInsights Core Features

Add the Google Analytics tracking code

View Google Analytics data inside your WordPress dashboard

Set up outbound link tracking and other Events

eCommerce specific tracking and reports

Google Analytics by MonsterInsights Pros

Can view data inside your dashboard

Supports tracking Google Analytics Events, which is helpful

Lets you exclude certain user roles from being tracked

Google Analytics by MonsterInsights Cons

You can’t see stats on individual pages or posts like with Analytify

It’s expensive to get the best Pro features

How Does It Work?

Pricing

There is a limited free version at WordPress.org.
Most of the Pro features are locked behind the various Pro versions,
which start at a reasonable $39 but top out at a hefty $199 depending on
the features that you want.

Google Analytics WD Core Features

Lets you run a variety of reports from inside your WordPress dashboard

Helps you set up goals and filters

Offers eCommerce specific reports

Supports enhanced link attribution and outbound link tracking

Google Analytics WD Pros

You can run a wide range of reports without leaving your dashboard

Email notification summaries – even in the free version

Can set up custom dimensions in the Pro version

Supports tracking outbound links

Google Analytics WD Cons

The reports are ugly. Not a huge deal…but other plugins have better design

How Does It Work?

Like
the other in-dashboard plugins, you’ll need to authenticate Google
Analytics WD with your Google Analytics account to give it access to
tracking data. Then, you can configure the plugin like normal.

Pricing

Google Analytics WD has a solid free version at WordPress.org.
After that, full-featured Pro plans start at just $30, which makes it
fairly affordable compared to Analytify and MonsterInsights.

Pricing

6. WP Google Analytics Events

Overview

While
WP Google Analytics Events does help you add the Google Analytics
tracking code to your WordPress site, it’s mostly concerned with helping
you easily set up Google Analytics Event Tracking for a variety of
actions.

WP Google Analytics Events Core Features

Adds the Google Analytics tracking code

Helps
you add Google Analytics Event Tracking for a variety of actions like
outbound link clicks, scroll depth, video players, and more

WP Google Analytics Events Pros

Google Analytics Events add a ton of power to Google Analytics

Very easy to use. You don’t need to touch any code to set up your various Events

WP Google Analytics Events Cons

You’ll probably need the Pro version for the most helpful functionality

How Does It Work?

You
install the plugin and add your Google Analytics User ID. Then, you can
set up Event Tracking for a variety of actions using a user friendly
interface. No code required.

And that
concludes my look at the 6 best Google Analytics plugins for WordPress.
If you just want a lightweight plugin to help you add the Google
Analytics tracking code to WordPress, then Analytics Cat is your best
option.

On the other hand, if you want to both add the tracking
code and view your Google Analytics stats inside your WordPress
dashboard, then you’ll want to pick between Analytify, Google Analytics
by MonsterInsights, Google Analytics WD, or Google Analytics Dashboard
for WP.

And finally, Google Analytics Event Tracking gives you a
simple way to collect even more valuable data for your Google Analytics
analysis.

Editorial Team

The editorial team watches over all the content that gets published on the MachoThemes blog. You can get in touch with us via our contact form. This author box is generated using Simple Author Box plugin, available for FREE on WordPress.org.

MonsterInsights fulfills its goal of making analytics easy for beginners. It gives you the powerful insights of Google Analytics, without the overwhelm. It’s easily the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress.